Show Reviews

This was my first show, so I'll forever be biased as to it being an awesome, amazing, life changing performance. Every time I listen to it (as I am as I write this), it takes me back to being an 18 year old noob, losing my sh*t when they opened the second set with David Bowie. It's also the only time I've gotten a Foam or a Terrapin.

I miss seeing Phish in Philly, which as I write this they haven't done in over 4 years. And no, Camden doesn't count.

I'm kinda suprised to not see a review of this show. At the Mann, in Philly in '94?!
This tape never leaves my whip, and yet has somehow managed to stay alive and well after all these years.

1st set is nice, Stash goes off for a while before slipping into Mango.
I really enjoy the Sample as well as the Stash>Mango>Ice>Tela>Julius a lot. Could've ended there, but you get a rocking Suzy just to keep you going into the break.

Now the 2nd Set is so damn tasty.
I love this Bowie opener(one of my fav), followed by a nice breather with If I could, a solid Fluffhead (great crowd action), and a rowdy DWD which goes so perfectly smooth into The Mann WSIY. One of my favorite transitions of all time. Listened to it so many times I almost expect to hear it after all the DWD's.
Possum rocks hard, and has a nice little Jimi riff in there at just the right place, like the way Trey drops 'Auld Lang Syne' into stuff on NYE.
Fun and goofs on HYHU>Terrapin>HYHU. I trully enjoy the vacuum solo here, and would love to catch it at a show nowadays.
Hood - so good! - Sets my soul a fire.
Rocky Top cherry on the Mann.

I personally rate this show very high in my world as it sprung me toward a life and scene I knew nothing about beforehand. I went with some friends and was in the third row, and I had only heard Hoist and the song Possum at this point. I had never listened to the Dead and was into hardcore, Dream Theater, Primus, Helmet, Rage and stuff like that. My friends and I got dropped off and we walked right into the show (I had no idea why so many people were just hanging out outside - I'd never even noticed a tailgate, let alone lot scene). No beer, no anything (except maybe cigarettes), and no expectations other than my friend telling me she thought I'd like them. My mind was totally blown and I was beyond impressed by what I saw.
I've now gone back to relisten to all my prior shows. This one was good -- hard rocking change-nailing Phish, but nothing that would stand out to me today. Possum was super strong and energetic, and everything was played well. I can also say that this was a great way to hear the song Foam for the first time (as well as Bowie and Fluffhead) -- I'll never forget it.

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